Geolocation using guided surface waves

Abstract

Disclosed are various approaches for determining a location using guided surface waves. A guided surface wave is received. A field strength of a guided surface wave is identified. A phase of the guided surface wave is identified. A distance from a guided surface waveguide probe that launched the guided surface wave is calculated. A location is determined based at least in part on the distance from the guided surface waveguide probe.

Therefore, the following is claimed: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a charge terminal elevated over a lossy conducting medium; 
 a receiver network coupled between the charge terminal and the lossy conducting medium, the receiver network having a phase delay (Φ) that matches a wave tilt angle (Ψ) associated with a guided surface wave having a wavefront incident at a complex Brewster angle of the lossy conducting medium, the wave tilt angle (Ψ) based at least in part upon characteristics of the lossy conducting medium in a vicinity of a guided surface wave receive structure: 
 a processor; 
 a memory; and 
 an application stored in the memory and executable by the processor, wherein the application causes the apparatus to perform at least the following actions when executed by the processor:
 identify a field strength of the guided surface wave received by the receiver network; 
 identify a phase of the guided surface wave; 
 calculate a distance of the receiver network from a guided surface waveguide probe that launched the guided surface wave; and 
 determine a location of the receiver network based at least in part on the distance of the receiver network from the guided surface waveguide probe. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the application, when executed by the processor, further causes the apparatus to at least:
 identify a second field strength of a second guided surface wave received by the receiver network; 
 identify a second phase of the second guided surface wave; 
 calculate a second distance of the receiver network from a second guided surface waveguide probe that launched the second guided surface wave; and 
 wherein causing the apparatus to determine the location of the receiver network is further based at least in part on the second distance of the receiver network from the second guided surface waveguide probe. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guided surface wave traverses the Earth. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the application, when executed by the processor, further causes the apparatus to at least disambiguate the location of the receiving structure from a plurality of potential locations based at least in part on inertial data associated with the apparatus, wherein the inertial data is stored in the memory of the apparatus. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the application, when executed by the processor, further causes the apparatus to at least disambiguate the location of the receiving structure from a plurality of potential locations based at least in part on an identity of a cellular network tower within range of the receiver network. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the application, when executed by the processor, further causes the apparatus to at least disambiguate the location of the receiving structure from a plurality of potential locations based at least in part on an identity of a radio transmission tower within range of the receiver network. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the charge terminal is height adjustable such that a change in a height of the charge terminal causes a change in the phase delay (Φ). 
     
     
       8. A method, comprising:
 receiving a guided surface wave travelling along a terrestrial medium with a guided surface wave receive structure, the guided surface wave having a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle of the terrestrial medium; 
 identifying a field strength of the guided surface wave; 
 identifying a phase of the guided surface wave; 
 calculating a distance from a guided surface waveguide probe that launched the guided surface wave; and 
 determining a location based at least in part on the distance from the guided surface waveguide probe. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a second guided surface wave with the guided surface wave receive structure; 
 identify a second field strength of the second guided surface wave; 
 identify a second phase of the second guided surface wave; 
 calculate a second distance from a second guided surface waveguide probe that launched the second guided surface wave; and 
 wherein determining the location is further based at least in part on the second distance from the second guided surface waveguide probe. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the guided surface wave traverses the Earth. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the current location is further based at least in part on inertial data. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the current location is further based at least in part on identifying a cellular network tower. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a broadcast transmission; 
 disambiguating the current location from a plurality of potential locations based at least in part on an identity of the broadcast transmission. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a signal from a wireless network; 
 identifying a media access control (MAC) address associated with an access point for the wireless network; 
 identifying an approximate position based at least in part on the MAC address; and 
 wherein determining the current location is further based at least in part on the approximate position. 
 
     
     
       15. A system, comprising:
 a guided surface wave receive structure configured to obtain electrical energy from a guided surface wave traveling along a terrestrial medium, the guided surface wave having a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle of the terrestrial medium; 
 a processor; 
 a memory; and 
 an application stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, causes the apparatus to at least:
 identify a field strength of the guided surface wave received by the guided surface wave receive structure; 
 identify a phase of the guided surface wave; 
 calculate a distance of the guided surface wave receive structure from a guided surface waveguide probe that launched the guided surface wave; and 
 determine a current location of the guided surface wave receive structure based at least in part on the distance of the guided surface wave receive structure from the guided surface waveguide probe. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the application, when executed by the processor, further causes the system to at least:
 identify a second field strength of a second guided surface wave received by the guided surface wave receive structure; 
 identify a second phase of the second guided surface wave; 
 calculate a second distance of the guided surface wave receive structure from a second guided surface waveguide probe that launched the second guided surface wave; and 
 wherein causing the apparatus to determine the current location of the guided surface wave receive structure is further based at least in part on the second distance of the guided surface wave receive structure from the second guided surface waveguide probe. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the guided surface wave traverses the Earth. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the application, when executed by the processor, further causes the system to at least disambiguate the current location of the guided surface wave receive structure from a plurality of potential locations of the guided surface wave receive structure based at least in part on inertial data associated with the system, wherein the inertial data is stored in the memory of the system. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the application, when executed by the processor, further causes the system to at least disambiguate the current location of the guided surface wave receive structure from a plurality of potential locations of the guided surface wave receive structure based at least in part on an identity of a cellular network tower in range of the guided surface wave receive structure. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the application, when executed by the processor, further causes the system to at least disambiguate the current location of the guided surface wave receive structure from a plurality of potential locations of the guided surface wave receive structure based at least in part on an identity of a radio transmission tower within range of the guided surface wave receive structure.